Warriors upset bid denied
Published 9:10 am Monday, January 30, 2023
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AHOSKIE – Ahoskie Christian had league-leading Pamlico Christian on the ropes here Friday night, but the Warriors could not deliver a knockout blow.
Ahoskie Christian School’s Hunter Pearce (with ball) drives past Pamlico Christian defender Joel Alcock for two of his 10 points in Friday night’s loss to the conference division leading Mariners. Staff Photo by Cal Bryant
Pamlico outscored their hosts, 17-3, in the fourth quarter to rally past the Warriors, 42-32, in varsity boys basketball action.
Ahoskie Christian snapped a 23-23 stalemate early in the third quarter. There the Warriors went on a 6-2 run and closed the period with a 29-25 lead. Tyler Berryman’s basket off an offensive rebound plus a steal and lay-up by Hunter Pearce accounted for the majority of that offensive effort. Pearce also added two late free throws that accounted for the Warriors four-point lead by the end of the period.
However, Pamlico came roaring back over the final eight minutes of action. James Howard opened the period with a basket followed by three-pointers from Trent Gaskins on consecutive possessions.
Berryman drained a trey that got the Warriors to within a single point (33-32) with 5:34 left in the game, but Ahoskie Christian didn’t score again.
Down the stretch, Pamlico Christian used their height advantage to produce second and third scoring opportunities as they pounded the boards for offensive rebounds. That took its toll on the Warriors and the fouls began to pile up on ACS. Pamlico scored only one basket in the final five minutes, but managed to pull away thanks to connecting on 7-of-8 free throws.
A back-and-forth first quarter produced one tie and six lead changes. Pearce buried a long-range three-pointer and added a deuce while Greyson Jilcott and Jacob Early each added a basket, but the Warriors trailed 13-9 at the end of the period.
Berryman heated up in the second quarter where he connected on a trio of treys, one from deep in the corner, one from the left wing and other from the right wing to rally the Warriors to an 18-17 lead. After a basket from Pamlico’s Jared Stark allowed the Mariners to reclaim the lead at 19-18, Ahoskie Christian scored the final points of the period – a basket from Jesse Wynn and a single free throw by Pearce – to grab a 21-19 lead at halftime.
Berryman (14 points) and Pearce (10) led the Warriors in scoring.
Stark (10), Joel Alcock (9), and Jason Caccavaro (9) topped the Pamlico Christian scoring.
About Cal Bryant
Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.
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